Bupa makes headway in health impact for First Nations communities

Marking National Reconciliation Week, Bupa has unveiled its 2026–2029 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), its third Stretch RAP, signalling its continued commitment to improving health outcomes for First Nations communities.

The new RAP builds on the outcomes of the 2023–2026 period, during which the health insurer recorded measurable progress across four core pillars of health, procurement, employment, and cultural education.

A central feature of this progress has been targeted health intervention work.

Through a partnership between the Bupa Foundation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers have now completed diabetes prevention training.

The initiative responds to a critical public health disparity, with diabetes three times more prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, driving significantly higher rates of kidney disease, heart disease, dementia, and other chronic conditions. The program highlights the importance of culturally informed, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led training models in addressing entrenched health inequities and improving long-term outcomes.

“Through its previous and new commitments, it is clear that Bupa recognises the role it can play in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing outcomes,” said Karen Mundine CEO Reconciliation Australia.

Bupa APAC CEO Nick Stone stated, “Because of the commitments we have made and the work we have undertaken, we are now partnering with First Nations-led health organisations to deliver improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. We have nearly doubled our procurement spend with First Nations businesses and suppliers across the duration of the 2023-2026 RAP through a dedicated First Nations Procurement Strategy.”

With a target of 2% First Nations employment by 2029, Stone noted progress but acknowledged ongoing gaps.

“We have increased the number of employees who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander from 0.5% to 0.99%, but this is an area where we know we have more work to do,” he said.

At the same time, Bupa’s workforce has broadened its cultural capability through learning programs, development opportunities with more than 820 leaders receiving face to face cultural training, exceeding its target of 600 over 3 years, and 10,140 employees completing online cultural learning against a target of 3,000.

In parallel, the Bupa Foundation has directed targeted funding to community-led initiatives, with Malpa, Weenthunga Health Network, and the Deadly Ed Foundation each receiving $50,000 to advance health, education, and employment outcomes for First Nations communities. The investments extend existing partnerships with NACCHO and the Brien Holden Foundation.

Within this framework, Malpa’s Young Doctors Program, delivered in collaboration with local Elders and Aboriginal health workers, is a 15-week school-based initiative designed to support children through cultural connection, health education, and leadership development.

Weenthunga Health Network supports First Nations students from secondary school through to university, offering mentoring, academic assistance, wellbeing care, and sustained connection to community. Additionally, the Deadly Ed Foundation’s Improve Country program integrates Aboriginal knowledge systems, connection to Country, and community leadership into everyday learning, guided by Aboriginal educators.

“Building on the strong foundations achieved to date, this RAP will strive to foster equity and equality through four new key areas: supporting community-led health care, advocating for better health outcomes, delivering strategic employment and engagement and supporting First Nations businesses. These focus areas align with, and go beyond, the expected deliverables of a Stretch RAP,” Stone stated.

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